I really enjoy going to watch live comedy shows but they are a tough environment for someone with hearing loss.
I’ve been to see Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble and others at Oxford’s New Theatre in the last couple of years. I struggled to hear through most of them, I probably picked up maybe 60% of the jokes, but even then it was worth it for the jokes I did hear.
It’s a tough environment for hearing aids – I want to hear one person’s voice, who is being amplified over speakers and I don’t want to have my ear drums assaulted by the laughter of the crowd. So I’m dealing with short bursts of loud noise interspersed with the comedian’s voice. The aids need to be quick as comedian’s are pretty rapid-fire with their jokes, if I’m a second or two behind because noise-reduction is still dapenning the laughter then I’ve missed the start of the next gag.
The most recent show I went to was James Acaster, which I was looking forward to because he’s a great comedian, but also because I’d just got my new ReSound Linx 3D hearing aids and I knew this would be a tough work out for them and a real test of their quality.
We were sat fairly far back at the Acaster gig and also a bit too close to a speaker for my liking, I was worried that it was going to be too loud.
I was well impressed with the Linx’s performance. I coud hear James superbly throughout the gig, I maybe missed one or two jokes but I missed far less than I had done at previous shows. The noise of the crowd’s laughter was reduced to a very comfortable level and even though the aids were working hard to reduce that noise they never dampened out the voice I wanted to hear.
One downside (or was it?) was that the ReSound’s were super-focused on the comedian’s voice and a couple of times I realised the person I was with had said something to me but I didn’t hear them. But hey, I came out of the gig having heard 95% of the jokes and had absolutely no wories about being over-exposed to the loud noise of the crowd. My aids passed this tough test with flying colours.
Changing Wax filters on Receiver In The Ear hearing aids is a similar process as the custom devices. Sometimes however, the wax guards may be a different type. Always try to make sure you buy the same wax guards that came with your hearing aids. Let’s take a look at it.
Changing Wax Filters on RITE Devices is Important
It is particularly important that you take care to change the wax guard on your RITE hearing aid. It is more sensitive than the receiver in a custom hearing aid and more likely to fail if you don’t care for it. The wax guards for Oticon RITE hearing aids tend to be different than the ones for their custom devices. Make sure you buy the same one as came with your hearing aids.
When To Change Them?
It is similar as before, if the wax guard looks blocked, it is time to remove it. The process is similar, here is how you do it.
Step 1. As I said, the wax filters come on a circular holder with Oticon. Remove the tool from the shell. The tool has two pins, one empty for removal and one with the new wax filter.
Step 2. Push the empty pin into the old wax filter in the speaker, you will feel it click and then just pull it straight out.
Step 3. Insert the new wax filter using the other pin, remove the tool by rolling it off and throw it away.
Again, Oticon have a handy video showing you the process which you can see below.
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One of the many things I get asked by new users of custom and RIC hearing aids is about changing the wax guards on their hearing aids. Most new users realise that maintenance and cleaning of their hearing aids is an important part of caring for their investment. Changing the wax guard on a hearing aid when needed will save you real money and here is why.
What The Hell Are Wax Guards?
Glad you asked me that, wax guards are little white fiddly plastic yokes sent by the devil to irritate you. Actually, that isn’t true, however it sounded funny in my head. Wax guards are designed to protect the receiver (speaker part) of your hearing aid from wax and in the case of advanced wax guards, moisture as well.
Why Geoff Why?
Receivers don’t like wax or moisture, if wax or moisture gets into the reciever of your hearing aid it will die an early and horrible death. More importantly, you will now be the proud owner of a piece of plastic that isn’t even any use as a paper weight. Until, that is, you have it repaired. Which, depending on whether your hearing aids are still in warranty, may cost you real money (anything over 50 notes is real money to me).
It Pays To Protect Those Hearing Aids
So, it pays to protect your hearing aids, cleaning and caring for them like the huge investment they are. So that means a regular drying, cleaning and care routine and, changing the wax guards.
When To Change The Wax Guards?
Here is where it gets muddy, I am afraid, the answer is how long is a piece of string. Some people have to change the wax guards on an almost monthly basis. Some people can get months out of a wax guard. It really depends on the the amount of ear wax in your ear canal. Which is relatively different from person to person.
How You Will Know The Wax Guard Needs Changing
During your regular clean and care routine (let’s pretend you have one) take a good look at the speaker end of your hearing aid. Check your wax guard carefully and see if it has a lot of wax in it. Most wax guards have a series of holes in the cup part of them that are visible to a good eye. If they are blocked, or if you can’t see them at all. It is time to change your wax guard. Don’t wait for the sound to go dead or weaken, sometimes, that just won’t happen until the wax has invaded the speaker part itself.
Let’s Talk About Oticon Wax Guards
So there are a range of Oticon was guards available for both their in ear and RITE hearing aids. Both are in essence similar in nature. Let’s take a look at changing them on a custom hearing aid. First get your wax guard pack out, most Oticon packs are circular.
Step 1. Remove the tool from the shell. The tool has two pins, one empty for removal and one with the new wax filter.
Step 2. As I said, on the tool will be an empty pin and a pin loaded with a new wax guard. Push the empty pin into the old wax filter in the speaker and pull it out.
Step 3. Insert the new wax filter using the other pin, remove the tool (best way to do this is to kind of roll it off) and throw it away.
To Find Out How To Change Wax Guards On Oticon Reciever In The Ear Devices, Go To The Next Page.
The march to direct iPhone connectivity continues with yet another hearing aid manufacturer joining the fray. Widex introduced a new device called the Beyond which falls under the umbrella term of Made For iPhone. Widex has for the first time added direct smart phone connectivity on top of its now famous wireless connectivity platform, Widex Link. Updated 07/06/17, we have learned of some problems with the Beyond Fusion and connection to iPhone.
Four Made For iPhone Hearing Aid Manufacturers
That is now four hearing device manufacturers with a made for iPhone capability, Oticon, Widex and of course GN Resound and Starkey. Widex has based the device on their Fusion model and FCC licencing surfaced in June for the device. AT EUHA (International Hearing Aid Conference in Germany) they introduced both the Beyond hearing aid and the Beyond app for smartphone. Every manufacturer is going down this route, but it is interesting to see Widex do it now as opposed to sometime in the future.
While Widex have now introduced a 2.4ghz BlueTooth radio to the Beyond, it has retained both the WidexLink and a telecoil on the devices.
Widex Link
Retaining the Widex Link makes sense for several reasons. The first being, that it is still without doubt, the single best system available for streaming high quality audio. The second is that it will mean that any Widex users who upgrade their devices to the Beyond will still be able to use their Dex accessories. Retaining a T-Coil also makes some sense, the T-Coil system is making a huge resurgence in the United States and many in the UK and Ireland are used to using the T-Coil in public places.
Another reason which is hugely valid and was pointed out to me by someone from Widex was the fact that keeping WidexLink allowed the inter ear features of the hearing aids continue to work even if you were streaming audio to the devices. You know I was a bit taken aback by that because I hadn’t actually thought about it. I have explored that in another article which you can see here. However, the question it raises is, do the other manufacturers ear to ear features continue to work when there is audio being streamed? I will find out that if I can.
Widex
Beyond Hearing Aids
So what do we know about the Beyond? It is a Fusion device based on the Unique technology, however it is not a Fusion, it is longer and thinner than the original Fusion with a new button. As we said it also has three radios onboard, the one for Widex Link, a telecoil and the new radio for direct iPhone connection making it possible to stream music and conduct phone calls directly to the hearing aid without any intermediary device.
Widex Products are famous for their sound quality, now it appears that sound quality extends to the best sound Made for iPhone. The device seems to have been launched as a style as opposed to a platform. By that I mean the Beyond appears to fit into the Unique family in the same way the Fusion or CIC does. It is available in the usual four levels of technology, the 440, 330, 220 and 110.
The Beyond App
User Fine Tuning?
The Beyond app seems to have the usual features, you can set geo locations for different sound programmes and make changes to how the hearing aids are working on the go. However, there also seems to be an element of self fine tuning on the app, whereby users can change the frequency response of the hearing aids. They are calling this feature the Preference Control and it seems to break down frequencies into three bands, Bass, Middle and Treble. It is interesting to see manufacturers begin to hand over this type of control to users.
The Beyond at present appears to be only a Fusion type hearing aid, however, it will be interesting to see how and if Widex will expand the Made For iPhone range. It is a little unusual that Widex has just delivered one device as opposed to a full range.However, it probably makes perfect sense if Widex has just considered it a style or type of hearing aid rather than a platform or family.
Widex has always introduced a full range of device types with every platform. The only time before now it hasn’t was during the Clear launch. They delayed the launch of the custom devices then because of technical issues. So I would wonder why they have not introduced a full range. I think it may be that the Beyond is just a hearing aid type that they are going to fit into their Unique range, and this does appear to be what they are doing.
Although in fairness to Widex, most of their competitors, except for GN Resound with the Linx2, have done something similar. I have a feeling though that Widex will not leave it at just one device. Only God and Widex know what is in their current product road map, but I wouldn’t bet against a new Super Power device, a wider range of made for iPhone devices and probably rechargeable devices.
Although I think that depends on who is steering the ship, Widex has changed over the last couple of years. While the engineers are still a strong component of the business, they no longer make the decisions about product road maps. The business is now far more driven by the market demands, which makes sense, but may in essence weaken the famous Widex innovation.
I think they will base the next device on the market demands, just as the Beyond has been. Although a recent patent filing for a custom tip for a hearing aid with a sensor set that records body vitals made me more than a little excited. I thought Widex may have returned to the halcyon days of driving the technology rather than responding to it.
But hey, you never know, the engineers might win and they could deliver a hearing device next year that can be part of a deeper integrated health environment. We will keep you posted on the Beyond and the Beyond App as details come to us.
Update:Widex have today 30/03/2017 released an accompanying app for the Beyond on Android. So Android phone users can now avail of all of the functionality of the devices.
We have general details about the different types of devices in our hearing aid advice guide. It also details technology levels and features of hearing instruments in clear and easy to understand language.
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I love the Aussies, they are quite a direct race, quite open people who generally call a spade, a spade. Bit like the Irish really. I have seen Aussie advertising for hearing aids before and have to say enjoyed it. They have no real issue with facing risque subjects often interspersing the adverts with humor. Generally though, they get the message across quite directly. I came across a recent advert that had been condemned by the Advertising Watchdog. While I understand the sensitivities around the argument, it is a brave advert that raises the issues clearly.
What Your Mum Wants For Mother’s Day
I noticed the report on Mumbrella.com.au, it outlined how the advertising watchdog had denounced the television commercial as “menacing and threatening” for its depiction of domestic violence towards men. The campaign was called ‘What your mum wants for Mother’s Day’ and is a 15-second TV ad. In fact, I think the advert is great, i realise the sensitivities but I think the advert addresses something that is often forgotten, the impact of hearing loss on the wider family of people who suffer with it.
It features a woman trying to open a jar while yelling at her husband for help. When her husband fails to reply because he cannot hear, the ad freezes while she insinuates she is going to throw the jar in his direction. The advert finishes with the slogan “Get your mum what she really wants for Mother’s Day, a hearing test for your dad”. Before I go on, take a look at the advert:
Clarity Hearing Solutions stood by the Mother’s Day advertisement saying, “We find it incredulous that someone could take offence at this ad” and the script had light-hearted intentions. “When scripting and work-shopping it within our team, and sharing the script and even the final product, not one person raised an issue thinking that this in any way depicted domestic violence either as a depiction or as a suggestion. “The woman, while being seen to lift her hand to throw the jar, is not seen throwing the jar. There is no injury inflicted. Nor is the threat made to the man in the ad itself either. It’s a visual show of frustration behind his back. The movement illustrates and reflects the frustration often felt by significant others,” the company rebutted.
I spoke to the company over the last couple of days, a chap named Casper Schougaard asked me to pass this on “We do take this complaint very seriously. Domestic violence is a big issue in Australia and we certainly did not intend in any way to make light or take advantage of it. Some commentators have stated that we did it to get attention or to be renegade. We hope anyone who has seen the ad can tell that was not the intent. Depicting the frustration felt by the loved ones of people with hearing loss is difficult but important in allowing all parties to understand that hearing loss not only affects the person with the loss but also the people around them. In this instance the ASB feels we got it wrong and we will certainly abide by that decision. During the run of the ad it drove over 600 people to our landing page educating people about the warning signs of hearing loss. We have posted the ad and our complete response in the news section of our website.”
Hearing Loss Affects Everyone
Australia at present, like many other nations is taking serious steps to tackle domestic violence, so I can understand the sensitivities. I think the advert could have been ended slightly differently. Perhaps instead of freezing on the raised arm, it could have shown the arm drop and the woman shake her fist at him, or even scream in frustration. Anyway, the advert did one thing very well, it got people talking and I have no doubt that many people are going to remember Clarity Hearing Solutions.
Hearing loss is a team sport!
I applaud the advert, because I think it does address the frustration of loved ones when dealing with hearing loss. Hearing loss affects everyone around the person who has it, it’s a team sport! It can be exceptionally frustrating when the person with hearing loss is in complete denial. I think the advert raises this issue, an issue that is often forgotten.
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What should you consider when buying hearing aids if you have an active lifestyle?
So, you need hearing aids, but you aren’t quite ready for a pipe and slippers! I don’t see why having a hearing loss should change your life, in fact, I believe a well fitted set of modern hearing aids will ensure that it doesn’t. The answer to the question is really how active are you and what do you like to do?
Like sports? Well then choose hearing aids carefully
Do you like sports, play some tennis, maybe a little golf? Maybe you like to run, whether indoors or outdoors? Maybe you like to sail, or participate in water sports? Maybe it is just long hikes in the wilderness. If so, your ability to hear is often an integral part of these activities. Even just going to the gym to do a little cardio and throw some weights around is more often than not a social activity, so it would be nice to be able to hear well.
Anyone who likes to partake in these types of active lifestyles needs to think carefully when they are buying hearing aids. Your needs are slightly different than just hearing better, you want to hear better in tough situations that are physically tough on hearing aids. We all know that many runners like to listen to a run play-list while they are out, but more often than not still need to be able to hear. So what do you need to think about?
Waterproof hearing aids?
All of the activities I spoke about involve differing levels of sweat and moisture. They also include varying levels of movement from the sedate to the frenetic. So there are a few things that are important, the first is the waterproof rating of the hearing aids you chooses. The thing you need to be aware of is the IP rating of the devices you are thinking about.
Most of the hearing aid manufacturers have hearing devices with an IP68 rating which is supposed to be good enough for thirty minutes under three feet of water. However, having said that, many of the same manufacturers do not claim the devices to be waterproof, they claim them to be water resistant. The same manufacturers advise that the hearing aids should not be used during sailing or boating. Two of the manufacturers though advise that their devices can be used. Both Signia and GN Resound advise that their IP68 rated hearing aids should be fine for Boating or sailing.
Like to get sweaty? We really don’t want to know how, IP68 is your friend!
The issue for most is that when the devices leave the factory they are waterproof. However, as you open and close the battery door every day, you reduce the integrity of the seal. It seems that Resound and Signia are pretty confident with the seal on their battery doors. No matter what, if you like to exercise or get sweaty, any hearing aid with an IP68 rating should be good for your needs. While many of them are BTE or RIC devices, there are some ITE devices with an IP68 rating, so if discretion is what you are after, it might be available.
The outdoors life, wind, dust and sweat
Again, anyone who exercises outside, or works outside, maybe construction, landscaping etc has certain needs. Outside can be rainy, it can be dusty and it can be windy. None of these things are the hearing aid wearer’s friend. Again, rain and wind is handled well by IP68 rated devices, these type of devices should not let you down. However, just because they are IP68 does not mean they will handle wind well. Wind can be really irritating for hearing aid users, as it blows across the microphones it causes cavitation which can sound really loud in the ear.
Many of the same manufacturers have been making excellent strides in an effort to deal with it. Widex say they have the industry leading wind noise management system. I would tend to believe them as they don’t make claims lightly. However, many of the other manufacturers have some sort of system to deal with it. Most of the cutting edge wind noise reduction systems are only available in the top level of technology though, so you will pay for it.
Go wireless, you will never go back!
Music and phone calls
As I alluded to earlier, many people who lead active lifestyles like to listen to music on the go. If you are one of these people, well then your ideal hearing aid needs to be a Made For iPhone or a wireless hearing aid. Listen, even if you don’t like to listen to music on the go, your ideal hearing aid should be wireless. While the wireless systems are great for streaming audio, they are actually doing so much more to help you hear better. Go wireless my friends, you will never go back!
In my last article, So Why Would You Want Made For iPhone Hearing Aids? I spoke about the benefits of Made For iPhone hearing aids and how they differ from Wireless hearing aids. Take a look there for a deeper understanding of the benefits and differences. In essence, wireless or Bluetooth hearing aids will make your life easier, give you more control and introduce you to crystal clear music and audio direct to your hearing aids.
So, in synopsis, you busy active people! Need:
IP68
Wind Noise Management
Wireless Hearing Aids
Think carefully about what you want, spell out your lifestyle to your professional, get good advice. If you make the purchase having considered all of the preceding carefully, you should be fine.
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Tinnitus is a very difficult condition for many of the people who live with it. While there is no cure for the condition, there can be relief from it through therapy and management. One of our Associates has dedicated a lot of his professional life to bringing relief from Tinnitus in Glasgow.
Alan Hopkirk owns and manages the Invisible Hearing Clinic in Glasgow. He has been involved in the hearing profession for over 20 years and a Fellow of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists for 15 years. Based in Glasgow, he has been helping patients from Stornoway to Newcastle and Carlisle since setting up his independent audiology clinic in 2000. Many years ago Alan had an experience with a Tinnitus Patient that changed his view on the condition and spurred him to learn everything he could about it and its treatment.
The Patient had a debilitating case of Tinnitus that was having a dramatic effect on their life. Alan undertook some research into the treatment of the condition and he tried Sound Therapy as a treatment. The change in the Patient’s life and outlook was amazing. Alan realised he was hooked and needed to know more.
Since then Alan has dedicated a huge amount of time and energy to undertaking the latest training both in the United Kingdom and internationally in Tinnitus Therapy. Tinnitus Treatment is one of the core services they offer in Glasgow and Cumbernauld. The clinic offers a range of evidence based and proven treatments that are tailored to the individual needs of each Patient.
Alan says that this approach has always been effective for him. Tinnitus can be complex and no one solution is for everyone. He finds that a mixture of Tinnitus Solutions works best for individuals, a mixture based on how they respond and their own individual needs. This type of approach gives long-term relief.
Tinnitus Treatments
Alan has a real problem with a lot of the quackery that goes on around Tinnitus. He says that quite often he will come across some new pill or magic patch that makes claims based on little or no research. He gets really angry because he sees it as someone taking the opportunity to take advantage of people who are often in distress.
The treatments that he offer have no pills, no magic patches and no questionable research. They are treatments that have been proven to work. Treatments such as Tinnitus Sound Therapy, Tinnitus Re-training Therapy and CBT. He finds treatments like this, combined with good counselling nearly always work well.
Tinnitus Support Group Glasgow
Alan also founded the BTA (British Tinnitus Association) Tinnitus Support group in Glasgow. The group is run by Alan and it meets on a two months at the Pentagon Centre Suite 316, 3rd Floor 36 Washington Street Glasgow G3 8AZ . Alan says that the group forms an integral part of the treatment. It isn’t for everyone, but for those who are happy to attend there is great mutual support to be had.
No Cure, But There is Treatment
Alan’s final message was that while it’s true that Tinnitus can not be cured, that’s because it’s NOT a disease. However, there is treatment that will give relief, in fact, treatment can be so effective, Tinnitus is not and issue anymore! If you are having problems with Tinnitus in Glasgow, perhaps the first place to start should be the Invisible Hearing Clinic.
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Hearing Matters is a long established Independent Hearing Health Care Business Formed as a Partnership between two highly experienced ex-NHS audiologists, Peter Jones and Brian Unsworth. While they offer the very best hearing aids and hearing care, they also offer diverse services such as balance assessment. They are not your usual hearing aid centre.
New Hearing Aid Centre Knutsford
As Brian and Peter expanded their outlets they noted that many of their customers from North Wales, Chester and Cheshire were having to traverse Manchester to see them. They decided to look for a location that would reduce journey time for them.
When I spoke to Peter recently I asked him why Knutsford? He explained that he was familiar with the town, he explained that it is a historic market town that was mentioned in William the Conqueror’s Doomsday Book of 1086. So the town is well known in the region and many would have visited it at some time.
Peter said that when picking the location he had some clear ideas in mind. The town has two vibrant streets to shop in, Princess Street and King Street with a plethora of bijou independent boutiques intermingled with some larger high street favourites.
He said that they wanted something central but that was removed from the hub bub. Hearing Matters can be found squirrelled away in a calm/quiet backwater between the two shopping streets, ideal surroundings for delivering top quality hearing care. They sited their centre in St. James’ Court, 48a King Street, an exquisite building that has been sympathetically renovated which is thought to be a former chapel or schoolhouse by local residents.
Microsuction Ear Wax Removal
They offer ear wax removal at the location and they say that microsuction ear wax removal is by far the most popular method of ear cleaning. Although some enquire for ear syringing, they always explain that the method is no longer really used, however, they can undertake irrigation ear wax removal.
Normally though, when the methods are explained in detail, most people choose micro suction, no mess, no fuss.
Hearing Tests
They of course offer full and comprehensive hearing tests, undertaking audiological work ups to aid diagnosis and to deliver enough information for in-depth treatment recommendations.
They provide hearing aids from the very best hearing aid brands. As Independents, they have access to all of the hearing aid manufacturers which they say they need to ensure the right hearing aid is recommended for everyone they see.
But they go beyond the norm, they aren’t your typical centre. They also offer balance assessments as a service and they undertake full audiological work ups for their Specialist ENT Consultant clients.
I have known both of the lads for some time now, they are active in the wider Audiological community and I would often meet them at educational events. They are committed, hard working and care deeply for their profession and the people they care for, so if you are looking for hearing aids or hearing care in Knutsford, hearing matters might be the place to start.
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As a professional who deals with hearing loss every day it is easy for me to become blase about it. By that I mean we sometimes find ourselves focusing on the problem while losing sight of the effects it has on the people we deal with. I remember when I first qualified my focus was always on the hearing loss, and not the wider effects of the hearing loss on the person in front of me. That changed quickly as I began to realise the emotional destruction wrought by hearing loss. Hearing loss is not some arbitrary end, nor is it a sign of age and infirmity. It just is. Don’t let hearing loss rob you of the joy in your life. I was reminded of all these things by an article submitted by Joe Fleming of Vive Health. Here is the article, have a good read of it and I will be back to you after it. Just to make it clear, these aren’t typos, I write in UK English and Joe writes in US English.
Vive Health – Rebel Against Age
Did you know that 80% of adults over 65 who experience hearing loss never report it to a doctor? Instead, they attempt lifestyle and behavior adjustments to compensate including avoiding social gatherings and noisy venues, disrupting relationships because of communication problems, and even developing paranoia and nervousness around being alone and not being able to hear.
All of these unhealthy behaviors can funnel into overwhelming feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety. In fact, a well-known study from earlier this century of 4,000 people with hearing issues and their spouses found that those who did not seek assistance with hearing aid devices had much higher rates of psychosocial disorders that negatively affected their life.
Anxiety, stress and depression can both physically manifest as painful symptoms including headaches, back and muscle pain, as well as lead to periods of inactivity that can affect weight, self-confidence, strength, and overall health. So how can you prevent and/or address hearing-related anxiety? Listen up!
Know the Early Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing issues might not necessarily mean you have a hearing impairment or are going deaf. It can simply involve things like ringing or buzzing in the ear, inability to hear speech in complex environments like large groups, no longer hearing normal household sounds like doorbells and phones, and trouble understanding someone over the phone. Picking up on early signs of hearing loss set you up for proactively addressing the situation before you develop stress-symptoms around it.
Talk with Your Doctor Right Away
Research has shown that the longer adults with hearing problems avoid accepting help from doctors and potentially hearing aids, the higher the chance they will develop anxiety, paranoia, frustration, or depression around those problems. Speaking with a medical professional right away is key to tackling hearing problems before they seriously impact your life.
Doctors will want to know your background including chronic infections, ongoing workplace noises, and family history that might affect a diagnosis prior to referring you to a specialist. It might be helpful to ask family members and friends if they too have picked up on any behaviors or issues they have seen in regards to your hearing so you can share that with the doctor as well.
Find a Canine Companion
While finding a companion dog for seniors provides both general friendship and security, canines can also help address hearing-related stress, both as a therapeutic partner and also as an alarm of sorts. For older adults who experience anxiety in not being able to hear in their own home, specially trained hearing dogs can assist with picking up on and physically alerting their owner to sounds and smells, like phones ringing, smoke, alarms, burning, doorbells, etc.
Dogs also make great motivators for getting out of the house and exercising. If you experience hearing loss and have fears about going outside on your own, a canine companion could provide the security and hearing assistance to encourage you to go for it.
Seek Out Social Opportunities
A large part of hearing-related anxiety involves socially isolating yourself, letting relationships degrade, and cutting yourself off from loved ones and friends. People with undiagnosed hearing loss might experience stress stemming from thoughts that friends might be angry with them, simply because they misheard or didn’t hear at all what a friend told them. Awkwardness and embarrassment from misunderstanding people in conversation can also cause frustration and anxiety over social situations.
If you experience hearing loss, get the help and assistance you need to hear again and put yourself out there. Go to lunch with friends, have your family over, volunteer, join a club – not only do these actions benefit your physical health, but your mental health will be stronger for it too.
If you are getting older and noticing shifts in your life like going out less, experiencing more conflict with family and friends, and simply feeling fearful of losing your independence, it might be time to get your ears checked. Hearing loss can be natural with age and the benefits of preventing anxiety, depression, and social isolation by taking it seriously far outweigh the risks of not.
Joe Fleming
As I said, sometimes I forget the impact that hearing loss can have on someone, Joe’s article submission brought it home to me again. Hearing loss just is, it is not a statement or sign, it just is. Not dealing with it can cause a host of issues. What’s more important though is that not dealing with it will take the joy out of your life.
People have all these hang-ups about hearing aids and it fascinates me. Hearing aids are just a tool that allows someone to lead a normal life, that allows someone to fully engage with others. I remember someone saying to me years ago that I would not wear them because they would make me look old and senile. My response was that giving the wrong answers to questions and saying what did you say, repeat that and huh? Probably made you look that way.
Thank you to Joe Fleming for the article, Vive Health is a company that supplies all types of everything to help you rebel against age. I really like that concept.
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Greg Clements of Clements Hearing Service in Glasgow wrote a great article on why you need to be careful about using one of those earwax removal kits you can get online. You like your ear drums right? We do too, and if you want to keep them you need to listen!
So Greg offers earwax removal in Glasgow, his weapon of choice is microsuction earwax removal because his Patients love it. He wrote a great article and we thought it was worth reproducing some of it here. Recently he had heard from a few people who were enquiring about the home earwax removal kits that were available on the internet. He was a bit horrified, to be honest, but he could see the advantage for some people to use them as a maintenance tool to reduce earwax buildup. The one thing he wanted to get across though was that doing it yourself has risks and if you are determined to do it, you need to be gentle. I will hand you over to Greg.
This article first appeared on Greg’s blog, it can be read there in full at How To Remove Earwax
Have an ear wax blockage problem and like your ear drums? Yes we do too, you need to read the rest of the article!
Doing it at home
As I said, there are kits that can be bought on the internet for earwax removal. They are normally made up of some sort of a solution and a syringe or squeeze bulb to introduce it into the ear canal. If your ears are blocked enough to be causing you problems, these kits probably are not going to do the job for you. If you do decide to try out these kits, be careful!
Burst eardrum is impressively painful!
These kits are generally great for maintenance or preventing a build up if used regularly. If you are going to use them, be careful, when introducing the solution into your ear canal, do it gently. If you do it too forcefully there is a chance that you can rupture (burst) your ear drum. Believe me, you will regret it if you do, the pain of a perforated ear drum done through trauma is apparently something you will never forget!
Delicate bones in your middle ear you know!
Not just that, if you put too much pressure on it, you can force the fluid into the middle ear cavity. This could damage the middle ear bones at worst, or cause a middle ear infection at best. So be warned, soft and gentle.
Remember, gentle and comfortable?
Like I said, gentle and comfortable earwax removal by a professional, we promise not to blow out your eardrum!
Like we said, we think this is pretty good advice, the kits may be useful to reduce earwax buildup. In the right hands they may also be good to remove a blockage, but those hands have to be gentle. irrigation earwax removal is a gentle process that takes some time. That is why many professionals have moved to micro suction earwax removal. It is easier and tends to be quicker, it also tends to be less messy.
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